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January 6, 2008

Clemens, McNamee Have "Emotional" Phone Call

In a surprising twist to their public war of words, Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, spoke by telephone Friday night, Newsday has learned. It was their first contact since the Mitchell Report was released Dec. 13, and a person close to the situation described the hourlong conversation between the longtime friends as "emotional."

It is unclear whether Clemens or McNamee initiated the call, and attempts to reach representatives for both of them Saturday night were unsuccessful.

Coming on the heels of both men being requested to testify before a congressional committee in 10 days, does this phone call seem odd? The claims of both men are diametrically opposed to one another -- what could they have talked about for an hour?

I'm at work and the home VCR is set, but for anyone watching tonight -- 60 Minutes Game Thread? Or some post-segment comments?

Hi there. London Lord Lynch is currently in the US, so I'll get the chance to watch the 60 minutes programme tonight. I'll see what I can do. The beloved is a Yankee, but she hates the TCM more than me, so she'll fill me in more...

"I had a chance to become friends with Mr. Clemens in 2001, when I interviewed him for a profile in the New York Times Sunday magazine. ... he called me up after the story appeared and berated me over the telephone. When I asked him what he didn't like about the story, he said, "I didn't read it." I responded, "Then how do you know you don't like it?" He said he was told by his [Peter Gammons] that he should hate it. In fact, Mr. Clemens hated my profile so fervently that he had me banned from the Yankees' clubhouse during the years he remained with the team."

and

"On the first day I interviewed Mr. Clemens in Houston I had dinner with him and Mr. McNamee at the most exclusive steak house in Houston. The bill was for over $400, which I paid. Mr. Clemens said, "I’ll get you tomorrow." The next day he bought me a taco at a Mexican Restaurant."

Rusty Hardin, Clemens's attorney:"Anyone not persuaded by that interview is not a well person."

Earl Ward, McNamee's attorney said Clemens was "disinegenuous and desperate ... I just didn't think it was a very hard-hitting interview."

Robert Emery, another of McNamee's lawyers, said they'll wait until after Clemens's Congressional appearance on January 16 to decide whether to sue."If Congress calls him, he pretty much has to take the Fifth, and if he takes the Fifth, nobody will ever believe him again and all this effort has gone down the drain. And if he doesn't take the Fifth, it's very hard to imagine that a prosecutor isn't going to pursue this. So I think he's put himself in a terrible corner."

According to WEEI Rahger is filing the first lawsuit against McNamee for defamation. Oh, this is going to be such a soap opera!!!!!!!

Lawsuit was filed Sunday night, electronically. Will not interfere with his congressional appointment, no fifth, no immunity expected to be asked or used. Lawsuit is going to prove that the feds pressured McNamee to give up Clemens. Yeah boy!!!